April 26, 2024
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Third graders presented their awesome animal adaptations this week!
Opening Message
Creating Great Habits and Even Better Mistakes
Brendan Largay, Head of School
Post Date: April 26, 2024
Welcome back, everyone! I hope you enjoyed a great vacation week.
Typically, I use the April break to catch up on the books and magazine articles I have placed on my proverbial bedside table, and this year was no different. As I chipped away at that pile, two articles have occupied my thinking as we returned to school this week.
The first comes from Peter Becker, the head of the Taft School, an alma mater that Peter and I share. He wrote to his community about creating the conditions for optimal student learning—those that promote the development of habits of mind, academic discipline, and maintenance of focus and attention—to meet with success in today’s classrooms and the future workforce as we contend with the distractions of technology.
At Belmont Day, creating the conditions for student learning begins with fostering our core values in each of our students.
The skills and habits of attention begin in pre-kindergarten as students design games and harvest potatoes in the school garden; these habits of mind carry through to eighth grade as students embrace a yearlong research study and engage in new environments and cultural experiences in the Southwest. The growth in these moments at each end of a Belmont Day education is as remarkable as the skill development achieved through Singapore math, Fundations, or a Capstone presentation.
The second article came via the Marshall Memo, a weekly summary of current educational research and news curated by Kim Marshall, consultant, writer, and “designated reader” for pre-k to grade 12 educators. This week’s memo included a summary of an Edutopia article titled, ‘Tapping Into the Metacognition of Mistakes.’ The author, Andrew Boryga, writes, “It’s a positive development in K-12 schools that students are increasingly being encouraged to see mistakes and ‘productive struggle’ as a helpful part of the learning process.”
Boryga goes further into the subject to categorize what he sees as three types of mistakes:
- Sloppy – mistakes that can and should be avoided in the future by slowing down, proofreading, and being more attentive to accuracy
- ‘A-Ha!’ – mistakes that result in more learning and discovery
- Stretch – mistakes that are a byproduct of moving beyond our comfort zone into new and challenging territory of discovery
The author encourages educators to design and create safe learning environments that will allow for all three types of mistakes. Excellent teachers, including our Belmont Day faculty, guide their students through them toward more meaningful and lasting learning.
These two articles speak to the heart of teaching and learning in our classrooms at Belmont Day, where growth and challenge are realized in our successes and failures. The authors acknowledge excellence in teachers who understand how every moment provides students with a chance to grow. Both speak to hope, what we know and love about education, and a conversation so many of us who occupy educational spaces are eager to engage in.
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
Braiding Different Strands
The next meeting of Braiding Different Strands will be held on Tuesday, May 7, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Kiva. Please RSVP by clicking the button below.
Join us as we explore the concept of allyship. We will discuss the importance of building solidarity with historically marginalized communities and how we can move from passive to active support. We welcome and encourage all adult community members to attend.
If you have questions, please get in touch with Connie Yepez, director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Order Your 2024 Yearbook
Place your order for the all-school yearbook by Monday, May 6.
The yearbook costs $10 for students in pre-k to grade 7. All eighth-grade students will receive one complimentary copy. Additional copies may be ordered for $10 each using the order link.
Questions? Please reach out to yearbook faculty advisors Sandra Trentowsky or Charlie Baird. Thank you.
BDS Garden Workday
TOMORROW! Saturday, April 27, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Parents, students, and faculty are invited to wake up the garden for the new growing season. Middle school students may participate without an adult. We will be mulching, raking, clearing, enriching the soil, planting, and having fun. Bring gloves and a shovel if you have one (we have them, too), and enjoy being outdoors and working together to maintain our outdoor classroom and community garden.
Questions and RSVP to Kathy Jo Solomon at ksolomon@belmontday.org
Spring Fest: Volunteers Needed
Spring Fest is just around the corner! Join us next Saturday, May 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. for an afternoon filled with music, dance, treats, and activities for the whole family.
To make the event a success, we need your help! Please consider volunteering to help with setup, breakdown, or event management by adding your name to the signup. For questions, please contact Xin Liu, lead event volunteer. Click the button below to volunteer.
And if you're planning to attend, please click here to RSVP. Thank you!
Lunch & Snack Menu
April 29 to May 3
Monday
Snack: fruit cup; Smartfood
Lunch: spaghetti and meat sauce; spaghetti and marinara: gluten-free pasta and meat sauce; crusty rolls; seasoned broccoli; mixed green salad with balsamic
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; laver (roasted seaweed)
Lunch: chicken boa buns; vegan bao buns; gluten-free hoisin chicken bowl with rice; spicy mayo; bok choi with peppers; pickled cucumbers and colorful slaw
Wednesday
Snack: apple slices; animal crackers
Lunch: beef burgers with buns; vegan burgers with buns; beef burgers with gluten-free buns; Ruffles potato chips; primavera vegetable blend; garden salad with Roma tomatoes and honey mustard
Thursday
Snack: clementines; Fritos
Lunch: ham and Swiss croissants; vegan cheese panini; gluten-free ham and cheese sandwiches; green beans; Caesar salad
Friday
Snack: apples; apple muffins
Faculty Lunch
Matzoh will be available all week for those observing Passover.
Please click the button below for a more detailed and updated weekly menu.
BDS News
STAFFING NEWS
New Hires
Ekta Sampson, kindergarten teacher
We are delighted to share that Ekta Sampson will be our new kindergarten teacher in the fall.
Ekta has spent the last 11 years in the classroom, starting as a one-to-one behavioral interventionist before becoming a licensed teacher. She has previously taught in independent, charter, and urban public schools in Massachusetts and Vermont. Ekta most recently led a kindergarten and first grade classroom at The Schoolhouse in Burlington, Vermont. Before that, she taught kindergarten at the Lyndon Town School and Molly Stark Elementary, both in Vermont.
Ekta received a master's degree in elementary education from Lesley University. Ekta holds three additional teaching licenses: early childhood, special education, and middle school math. She earned a bachelor's degree at Colby-Sawyer College. She has coached middle and high school soccer, ice hockey, golf, and lacrosse. In addition to her teaching credentials, Ekta is certified in Yoga-4-Classrooms as well as Mindfulness for Kids and Teens.
Julia Fox, first grade teacher
We are excited to announce that Julia Fox will join Geoffrey Fox (no relation) in the fall as the newest member of our first grade team.
Julia comes to us with experience teaching and subbing in first and third grades in various independent schools. Most recently, she taught first grade at Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island. Before that, Julia served as a long-term substitute teacher in first grade at the Pike School in Andover and as an associate teacher in first grade at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School. At the start of her career as an educator, Julia taught third grade at St. Mary Academy Bay View in Rhode Island.
In addition to her teaching experience, Julia was an assistant coach for Girls on the Run for students in grades three and four and taught yoga to kindergarten through grade 2. She currently co-leads the math club, an after school enrichment program at Moses Brown, and participates actively on the professional development committee. Julia has completed the associate-level Orton-Gillingham training and is now pursuing the practicum to become certified.
Julia received a master’s degree in elementary education from Lesley University and a master's degree in kinesiology from the University of Rhode Island. She earned a bachelor's degree in exercise physiology from the University of Miami.
Departures
Nathalie Pellenq, French teacher
After thirteen years of dedicated service as a lower school and sixth grade French teacher, Nathalie will move on to teach French to seventh and eighth grade students at the Shady Hill School in the fall. A highly organized, thoughtful, and talented teacher, colleague, mentor, coach, and friend, she will be missed here at Belmont Day. We wish you all the best, Nathalie!
Dale McGhee, business office associate
Dale is leaving Belmont Day after eight years of dedicated service to the school and skill in the business office. Whether ensuring that payroll runs smoothly for school and camp employees or engaged as a coach and Capstone mentor, Dale has been an invaluable member of our community. Dale's last day was Friday, April 26. He is considering opportunities in several public school districts, and we wish him the very best in the future.
Jade Morris, associate director of athletics
After two years as the associate director of middle school athletics and coach, Jade will return to her hometown in western Massachusetts as the new athletic director at the Williston-Northampton School. We will miss her energy and appreciate her care and commitment to the well-being of our students. We wish Jade and her family all the best.
BUSINESS OFFICE NEWS
Payments Begin May 1 for 2024-25 Tuition
We would like to remind families that 2024-25 tuition invoices for those who opted for the monthly Ten Payment Plan were published two weeks ago on the Parent Portal. The first monthly payment is due by Wednesday, May 1. The schedule of payment plan due dates for the 2024-25 school year is as follows:
- Wednesday, May 1, 2024
- Monday, June 3, 2024
- Monday, July 1, 2024
- Thursday, August 1, 2024
- Tuesday, September 3, 2024
- Tuesday, October 1, 2024
- Friday, November 1, 2024
- Monday, December 2, 2024
- Thursday, January 2, 2025
- Monday, February 3, 2025
Continue Reading
AutoPay payments will also be processed on these dates. Please be sure adequate funds are available in your account on the scheduled AutoPay date. Any changes to bank or credit card accounts must be made by 4 p.m. of the last business day before these dates. If the payment due date is on a Monday, payment method changes made over the weekend might not take effect in time for the Monday AutoPay batch.
The invoices for the Single Payment Plan and the Two Payment (60%/40%) Plan are also available for viewing on the parent portal. Currently, those invoices show the activity for the enrollment deposit fee and payment. The tuition charges will appear on the invoices later in May. Parents will receive an email when those invoices are ready for review.
Please note that if you have selected the Ten Payment Plan or the Two Payment (60%/40%) Payment Plan, the payment plan fee will be due and payable with your first payment. Additionally, families who elected the Tuition Refund Insurance Plan will see the charge for the insurance plan on your bill for your first payment as well.
Please contact the business office (business@belmontday.org) with any questions.
– Sarah Barrow, business manager
COMMUNITY SERVICE
GSA Organizes Book Drive for QT Library
The Belmont Day GSA (Gender/Sexuality Alliance) is excited to announce a book drive supporting QT Library! QT Library is a future brick-and-mortar library and sober community space to support the LGBTQIA+ community in Boston. They are currently organizing their collection and creating the physical space for the library with the goal of opening to the public this summer. Our GSA members identified this project early on and have been working directly with QT Library to create a book list based on the needs of the organization and the books our students love.
To donate, visit our customized book registry on Bookshop.org. Purchased books will be shipped directly to Belmont Day School, where they will be sorted and delivered by our student GSA members. Families are also welcome to buy books on their own and donate them. Look for a donation box near the Schoolhouse entrance next week.
– Zach d'Arbeloff, director of summer programs and GSA club adviser
AUXILIARY PROGRAMS
Digging Dinosaurs During April Vacation
Our dinosaur enthusiasts explored and celebrated all things Jurassic during the April vacation camp. Ms. Leighton and Mr. Dale implemented phenomenal dinosaur programming. They led our campers on virtual field trips and paleontology
– Blair Fross, director of school year auxiliary and specialty programs
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Help Sought for Faculty Appreciation Luncheon
On Friday, May 10, the parents' association will host a special buffet-style luncheon in Coolidge Hall to show our amazing Belmont Day faculty how much we appreciate them.
The lunch is made up of all sorts of wonderful homemade and purchased contributions. The PA is looking for donations of main dishes, side dishes, salads, desserts, and drinks. Belmont Day is a nut-free campus, so please keep that in mind when planning your contributions. Please plan to bring your donations to the morning drop-off on Friday, May 10. There will be a table in front of the PAC. We are also looking for help with set-up and clean-up.
If you are interested in making a donation or can help with set-up or clean-up, please sign up using the online form. Please note that the form has two pages.
If you have questions, please contact the Faculty Appreciation Luncheon co-chairs,Jamie Meredith, Danielle England, Priya Vaidya, and Dawn Rossi.
ADMISSIONS NEWS
Be a Buddy to a Newly Enrolled Family
What is a buddy family? A buddy family is a current family paired with a newly enrolled family—typically in the same grade as your student(s). With direction and support from the admissions team, volunteers will reach out with congratulations, schedule a meet-up over the summer (in-person or virtually), and be a point of contact for the first few months of school. Buddy families help new families feel welcome and keep the excitement going throughout the summer until school begins.
It's easy. Admissions emails you outreach reminders with talking points.
It's not too much work. You do your outreach over the summer through early fall only.
It's fun! You and/or your student(s) might make new friends at BDS.
Please complete this survey as soon as possible if you are interested. Pairings will be made in mid-May.
If you have any questions, please contact Judy Bright, admissions and outreach program manager.
Learning Updates
Fifth Graders Learn About Cultures, Share Special Snack
In their language, community, and culture (LCC) class, fifth graders are exploring the diversity of the Belmont Day community through a series of guided conversations. Eight faculty members and parents are sharing their experiences in non-American cultures. Students do some research before each conversation and afterward, we talk about similarities and differences between the researched information and the stories we hear in our guided conversations. These conversations give us a better understanding of our community. We also take time to explore our own experiences with culture.
On Tuesday, April 30, fifth grader Clara Min's dad, Alex Min, will visit to share about Korean culture. Food is an important aspect of culture, and Mr. Min will be sharing a popular Korean food, laver (seaweed). Many Asian countries, including Korea, both consume and export lots of laver, especially to the United States. Laver is a healthy snack option with a surprisingly high protein content and lots of vitamins and minerals. To help celebrate community with the fifth grade LCC class, packets of laver will be included as part of the school snack for that day.
– Tara Lightbody, food program director, Jennifer Friborg and Ana Maria Restrepo, grade 5 language, community, and culture teachers
Third Graders Explore Animal Adaptations
The third graders have been learning about the physical and behavioral adaptations of animals. As their culminating project, students designed and constructed an animal species using their knowledge of adaptations as well as their own creativity! Some criteria included structural adaptations that allowed for an offense or defense against predators and instinctive behavioral adaptations such as camouflaging to hide from a predator or burrowing underground during hibernation. Students also needed to consider their animal's place within a food chain, a habitat suited for its ecosystem, world location including migration zones, and conservation status. Our third grade zoologists are presenting these new species to their classmates in person as well as to family members near and far via Zoom.
– Leigh Twarog, third grade teacher
Athletics Update: JV Teams Take Center Stage
With the eighth grade class traveling in the Southwest, three junior varsity teams took center stage this week as the only interscholastic competitors. On a sun-soaked Thursday afternoon, the ultimate, tennis, and girls’ lacrosse programs each sent their junior varsity teams into action. Ultimate recorded a commanding 13-6 home win over Carroll thanks to lockdown defense by Joshua Harriette, strong throws from Noah Yang, decisive runs by Zoe Bantham-Livermore, and dynamic plays by Harvey Borisy. Across campus on Far Field, girls’ lacrosse ran into a talented DCD squad and fell 6-0. Despite the loss, Coach Syd Garner was encouraged by the play in the second half, most notably the aggressive defense by Melisa Adhikari and Christian Samuel, the confident goaltending by Rowan McCoy, and the endless motor of Eden O’Sullivan who worked hard up and down the field. Meanwhile, off-campus at Pequossette Playground (Belmont Day’s home tennis courts), the tennis team improved to 1-1 on the season with a big win over Beaver. Highlights from the day included fantastic team play by Colby Schneider, an impressive singles win for Jack Ward and refined skills from Josie Stevenson who really stepped up her game. Congratulations to all three teams on getting the spring season back into action following a long break.
– John O'Neill, director of athletics
Athletics News
- Hugue Marsan turned a corner for the boys’ lacrosse team this week and will be counted on for more minutes. Graham Chisolm and Sam Doyle had a great week of practice.
- Cordie Goldstyn, Siri Paulsson, and Claire Huang have been steady and reliable contributors to the girls’ varsity lacrosse team so far and have an opportunity to be impact players.
- Isla Smith and Penelope Bern continue to impress for varsity tennis. After getting a pair of matches rained out, the team is eager to compete and will have two matches next week.
OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS
Pre-kindergartners Build Bird Houses; New Species Arriving Daily
We've flown through four weeks of our birdwatching project, and it’s been wonderful seeing everyone so engaged.
This week, our pre-kindergarten students have continued their exploration of birds through a series of bird-themed choice time activities, including teaming up with Mr. Staples to build birdhouses. We are looking forward to sharing the curious questions flapping through their minds with scientists from Haikubox soon! Some questions they’re already pondering are:
- How do birds make nests?
- How do birds use tools?
- Why do birds fly away in the winter?
Our kindergartners enjoyed an egg-citing visit before the break from Parmesan the chicken! It was a peck-tacular part of their study on lifecycles and, needless to say, the kids were clucking with joy all day long.
The after school flock just wrapped up a special week dedicated to all things dinosaurs, including our modern dinosaurs ... birds! More to come on their amazing work soon. In the meantime, be sure to fly by and check out the newest addition to our display in the Gallery showing the evolution of birds. Thank you to the after school team!
Our Haikubox has identified 73 potential species since April 1. Although we can't be certain without visual confirmation. That said, we can listen to each call and also review the data that show the confidence level of each detection based on how the spectrograph of that recording compares to positively identified spectrographs. Come to think of it, that eastern screech owl did sound an awful lot like an ambulance ...
Ms. Crawford's fourth graders are gearing up for their turn at bird data collection next week. We can't wait to see what they discover in their flights through the field. We’re 'veery' excited.
– The Innovation Team: Brit Conroy, Annie Fuerst, and Amy Sprung
Parents' Association News
PA Meeting
The final parents' association meeting of the school year will be held on Thursday, May 2 at 8:30 a.m. in Coolidge Hall. The meeting (which was rescheduled due to the storm on April 4) will feature a discussion of remaining PA initiatives for the year and a presentation by the school safety committee regarding campus-wide safety practices and risk management procedures. Light refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there!
Spring Parent Celebration & Annual Corporation Meeting
Please join us on Thursday, May 16 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to celebrate our community and vote in the new slates for the PA Executive Team and Board of Trustees. There will be drinks, light hors d’oeuvres, and entertainment from a faculty band featuring Brendan Largay. You won’t want to miss this! Save the date, stay tuned for more information and book your babysitters now.
Cradles to Crayons Clothing Drive
Two Ways to Help!
DONATE! The collection drive officially ends TODAY, but you can still drop off clothes through Sunday, the sorting event day! The most needed items are clothing, winter coats and jackets, and all types of shoes. Bags for donations were handed out throughout the week at pick-up and drop-off. If you missed yours, please contact event co-chairs Carolyn Atinizian and Adrienne Mugar.
VOLUNTEER! Join other BDS families in sorting collected items this Sunday, April 28 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Barn. Click here to sign up.
Let's finish strong together and make a meaningful impact for local children in need!
Baby Book Collection
Help us welcome Grade 8 math teacher Rachel Starks Chaves' baby! It is a cherished PA tradition to present teachers with a basket of baby/children’s books as they go on parental leave. Please drop off your unwrapped book in Jen James’ office or leave it with Barbara Carey at the front desk. The deadline is next Thursday, May 2. Thank you!
Parent Book Group
Our next book group meeting will be Tuesday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Menotomy Grill & Tavern in Arlington to discuss North Woods: A Novel by Daniel Mason. We hope you will join us. If you have questions, please contact Karla Bays at karla.bays@gmail.com
Seeking Grade Parents for 2024-25
We would love to have you as a grade parent next year. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please reach out to us at bdspa@belmontday.org or contact an executive team member directly. Thank you.
- President – Karla Bays karla.bays@gmail.com
- Vice President – Courtney Queen cqueen.rosenfeld@gmail.com
- Treasurer – Andy Stevenson als@sfilp.com
- Clerk – Gigi Saltonstall gigisalt@gmail.com
Beyond BDS
CLASSICAL CONCERT
BDS Musicians to Perform with NEC’s Youth Repertory Orchestra
Join the New England Conservatory’s Youth Repertory Orchestra (YRO) for their concert on Sunday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m. at Jordan Hall in Boston. Violinist Jovana Zivanovic (eighth grade), trumpeter Nem Zivanovic (fifth grade), and cellist Clara Min (fifth grade) are members of the NEC YRO and will be performing. Musical pieces will include Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 13, Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, and Shostakovich’s Festive Overture.
Tickets are required but are available at no cost. Click here for tickets.
PARENT EDUCATION
BDS Parent's New Book Helps Get Kids Moving
Looking for strategies to get your kids up to exercise more and develop healthy habits? Amy Bantham, P '24, '26, just published a book that may help. Move to Live More: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers to Help Their Kids Move More and Feel Better was published in March to assist parents and caregivers in getting their whole families moving for better physical health, mental health, and academic development. The book features advice from twenty thought leaders on physical activity and youth sports and over 100 tips and takeaways. Check it out on Amazon, where it debuted as the number one new release in the Children and Exercise category.
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